Former England captain Kevin Pietersen was shocked by Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket. The 36-year-old took to social media to reveal the news. He had already informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his decision and refused to carry on despite the request of the officials.

Kohli has been facing form issues for a long time in Test cricket, and the last two series against New Zealand and Australia saw him struggling with the bat.

The right-handed batter made up his mind to call it a day after registering just 190 runs in 9 innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He was dismissed outside the off stump numerous times, and apart from one hundred, he failed to get going.

Pietersen, who is close to Virat, couldn’t believe it. “Virat?!?! ,” he wrote on X.

Virat was one of the finest Test batters of his generation, scoring 9230 runs at an average of 46.85. He was a part of 123 Tests and hit 30 hundreds, 31 fifties, 1027 boundaries and 30 sixes.

His absence will be felt during the upcoming five-Test series against England. The management and the selectors wanted Kohli to be a part of the tour, but he didn’t change his decision. With Rohit Sharma already retired, Kohli’s call is a big blow. India will now take an inexperienced side to the European country.

Having already retired from T20Is after India’s success in the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024, Virat will only represent the Men in Blue in ODIs.